RARE GRAPE VARIETAL RESOURCE

Either purposely bred or found by Dr. Charles Grant who established a vineyard and breeding program on Iona Island, near Bear Mountain State Park before 1860. It is a riparia/labrusca hybrid which is evidenced by its taste. The must produces a very dark juice, with high acids and soft to non-existent labrusca flavor, with overtones of fresh and cooked strawberries. In the 1880’s, in Bordeaux, France, it was reputedly used as a teinturier grape to add color to lighter colored red wines. The cluster is medium sized and compact. It is a very vigorous vine that blooms early, but ripens early-late in the season. It is very fungus disease resistant, winter hardy, very productive, has high sugar levels, and does well on many different soil types.(https://www.hudsonvalleyheritagewines.com/heritage-vines)